European air traffic up in June

Air traffic in Europe rose by 4.2 per cent during the month of June, according to new statistics.

Figures from the Association of European Airlines (AEA) show that capacity also increased by 3.9 per cent, with cross-border European routes continuing to grow strongly.

Traffic from the far east also rose by 3.7 per cent, while north Atlantic traffic saw a 3.3 per cent traffic surge, according to the organisation's report.

The figures come shortly after the International Air Travel Association recorded an increase of 6.3 per cent in international passenger demand for the first half of 2007.

"Elsewhere around the network, the south Atlantic market continued to boom, while uncharacteristically good growth was posted on African routes, both north and south of the Sahara," the AEA said in its report.

The AEA is a trade association comprising 31 European airlines, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, bmi, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa and Finnair.

Collectively, its members serve 320 million passengers a year, operating 10,780 flights every day.

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